Range Rover facelift gets PHEV variant, added luxury

After the introduction of the facelifted Range Rover Sport last week, it’s now time for the full-fat model to get a nip and tuck. The Range Rover gets many of the same updates as its smaller, sportier cousin, with a renewed design, new technologies and a plug-in hybrid variant.

Like the Sport, the Range Rover receives a few Velar-inspired exterior tweaks, including new, more angular headlights optionally available with Pixel-laser LED technology. These units incorporate 144 individual LEDs and four laser diodes, each capable of turning off individually to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. The new chain-like grille design has also been taken off the Velar.

The front fascia has also been revised with a cleaner design and wider air intake strakes, while the bonnet has been subtly reprofiled to appear longer than before. Meanwhile, the fake “vents” on the doors have been given a new design with three slats instead of two, while larger square graphics for the tail lights also feature. The tail pipes are also integrated into the rear bumper on all models.

Inside, you’ll find new seats that are wider on the outside for easier ingress, and incorporate deeper foams and new comfort interlayers. The front passenger seat now gets memory and heating as standard, and the available massage function has also been improved and adds a new Hot Stone setting. To make way for the wider seats, the seat adjustment controls have been moved to the doors, Mercedes-style.

At the rear, the optional Executive Class Seating now gets a power-retractable centre console to enable five-person seating, and can also be reclined by as much as 40 degrees, up from 17. As before, there’s a long-wheelbase model that is 200 mm longer, providing an extra 186 mm of legroom.

The Velar’s Touch Pro Duo system also makes its way here, incorporating twin 10-inch high-definition touchscreens – one for infotainment, the other for configure the climate control, seat and vehicle settings in conjunction with twin rotary Dynamic Dials. The smaller model’s customisable steering wheel controls have also been fitted, as has a new 12-inch instrument display and a 10-inch head-up display.

Other new features include a quicker voice control system with English and Mandarin recognition, twin rear touchscreens, gesture control for the roof sunblind, Nanoe air purification technology, a new centre console fridge, three-zone ambient lighting and up to 17 connection points (18 on the LWB) around the cabin – these include USB, HDMI and 12 V ports, plus twin domestic plug sockets for charging laptops and other devices.

Buyers can also specify the Activity Key that made its debut on the Jaguar F-Pace, which allows you to lock your actual key in the car when you’re out and about. An Advanced Tow Assist takes care of countersteering manoeuvres while reversing, enabling the driver to simply select the preferred path.

Safety features have been restructured for 2018, with autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning now fitted as standard across the range. The Drive Pack adds a blind spot monitor, driver condition monitor and traffic sign recognition, while the Drive Pro Pack throws in high-speed emergency braking, blind spot assist, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control with queue assist.

Meanwhile, the Park Pack bundles in a 360-degree parking camera, rear traffic monitor and a Clear Exit Monitor that alerts passengers if they’re about to open the rear doors into traffic. The Park Pro Pack introduces Park Assist automated parallel and perpendicular parking.

The big news is the introduction of the P400e plug-in hybrid model that replaces the SDV6 Hybrid Diesel. This combines a 300 PS/400 Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged Ingenium four-cylinder petrol engine and an 85 kW (116 PS) electric motor integrated into the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, resulting in a total system output of 404 PS and 640 Nm of torque.

All that propels the massive SUV from zero to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 220 km/h. A 13.1 kWh lithium-ion battery under the boot floor provides an all-electric range of 51 km, and the vehicle is capable of driving in EV-only mode as speeds of up to 137 km/h.

As with most PHEVs, the P400e can be driven either in Parallel Hybrid or EV mode, with the former featuring an energy-reserving Save function, as well as Predictive Energy Optimisation that uses the navigation system to optimise battery energy usage. Plug it up through a port hidden in the front grille and it will be fully charged in 7 hours 30 minutes via a domestic socket, or 2 hours 45 minutes using a 32 A charge point.

Meanwhile, the 5.0 litre supercharged petrol V8 gets an extra 15 metric horses to bring outputs up to 525 PS and 625 Nm. The sportier SVAutobiography Dynamic model also gets a similar power boost to 565 PS and 700 Nm, as well as a new Graphite Atlas grille design and a SVO-branded dark aluminium key.

The Range Rover retains its impervious off-road capability, gaining a new transfer case with a smart actuator rather than a separate motor and ECU, resulting in a 1.5kg weight saving. On the P400e, the Terrain Response 2 system has been retuned to take advantage of the electric motor’s zero creep speed and maximum torque from zero rpm, providing greater control during low-speed off-road manoeuvres.

The P400e’s wading depth is the same as other Range Rovers at 900 mm, despite the electrified powertrain – although Land Rover recommends the petrol engine to be engaged to avoid the ingress of water through the exhaust system. All models benefit from a new Low Traction Launch System derived from Jaguar, which uses a unique throttle map to help drivers pull away on slippery surfaces such as grass, gravel and snow.

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

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